Sunday would prove to be one of our busiest and most interesting race days that we have experienced to date. Thanks to NASCAR we had earned a VIP race experience and what an experience it was.

Bright and early Sunday morning picture taken from parking lot 1 as I waited for the parking shuttle as tweeted June 22nd, 2014 (Photo Credit: Amy K. Marbach)

Our race day started as another bright and even earlier day. We wanted to be absolutely certain we were at Sonoma Raceway in plenty of time so we left quite early knowing that highway 37 towards Sonoma is two lane for much of it (one in each direction) and can back up quite quickly and we wanting to leave nothing to chance. Because we left so early we encountered virtually no traffic except the usual getting into the raceway traffic so by the time we were parked and waiting for the shuttle to the paddock/media center we realized we were there well before we needed to be. So what do an early Misty and Amy do at a race track early? They take a quick walk down the length of the garage and then out to the area behind the pit stalls before they are too crowded.

The professional nerd in me loves how much NASCAR and it’s drivers have embraced social media. It’s a great way to engage the fans and create new ones. Nationwide driver Elliott Sadler gets this:

“Social media provides such a amazing opportunity for fans to engage with their heroes and people they really look up to,” Sadler stated. “Heck, I even get excited when I get a message back from guys like Larry The Cable Guy or Darius Rucker. I want to go one step beyond social media interaction and bring fans to the track for an unforgettable experience.”

So Sadler is using social media to reward his fans the race experience of a lifetime!

Prior to eleven Nationwide races fans will have the opportunity to win a VIP racing experience that includes a private meet and greet with Sadler, a tour of the No. 11 OneMain Financial Hauler, as well as pit and garage access throughout the Nationwide Series Events. All fans have to do to enter is tweet “#takemeto (race track)” to @Elliott_Sadler on Twitter and they will be entered to win the experience.

I know I would LOVE that kind of VIP experience! The tracks this promotion will be available for are Auto Club Speedway, Iowa Speedway, Michigan International Speedway, Road America, Kentucky Speedway, New Hampshire Motor Speedway, Chicagoland Speedway, Watkins Glen International, Mid-Ohio, Kansas Speedway and Homestead-Miami Speedway. For more information on this #takemeto promotion, interested fans are encouraged to visit www.onemainracing.com.